The 2013 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series (MWS), hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) was by far the most successful series ever boasting fifty-seven teams representing five countries - USA, Canada, British Virgin Islands, Italy and Japan. The Series consisted of three events commencing in early December 2012. Event No. 2, the Miami Winter Regatta took place in February 2013, followed by Studio Milano's Bacardi Miami Sailing Week (BMSW) as the grand finale in early March.

A full line of congratulations is in order for newly crowned 2013 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Champion Richard Davies and his ever ready, super steady crew of Charlie McKee and Matt Pistay on Section 16. Davies entered the class in October 2012, competing for the first time at the West Coast Nationals. From that moment on, it was known fleet wide that Davies was a force to be reckoned with. Davies is the first ever competitor to ever topple 2013 runner-up and defending Series champion Michael Kiss on Bacio from the top spot since the inception of the MWS.

Another first for 2013 is the crowning of a Corinthian Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Champion. The trophy and the title went to Canada’s Jon Messenger and his crew comprised of Jeremy Edwards and Mark Goodyear on Black Sheep. Fleet newcomer in 2013, John Brown on Blind Squirrel claimed second and Brian Hill’s Atlas rounded out the top three.

2013 Audi Melges 20 Bacardi Miami Sailing Week Champion Kiss, along with crew members Chris Rast and Willie McBride proudly accepted second place in the Series. The team had a slow start with a twelfth place finish in event one. By the second event, Bacio found their groove finishing in fourth, taking the Bacardi trophy after winning the last race of the series and the overall title.

Marcus Eagan aboard Cajun Underwriting, typically sails with his father and brother, and as one of the top Corinthian acts in the fleet, he rounded out the top three. In event No. 1, Eagan nabbed the first place Corinthian title and was runner up for the series.

The first event of the 2013 Series went to Russell Lucas aboard Shimmer. Lucas, accompanied by Harry Melges and Federico Michetti stayed towards the top throughout the series finishing eighth overall. Event two was proudly won by class stalwart Marc Hollerbach sailing Fu with tactician Jonathan McKee and crew member Ben Allen. Fu held steady and took sixth in the overall series with Kiss winning the MWS Event No. 3 | BMSW.

In addition to an unprecedented attendance level, 2013 also saw the addition of the Corinthian Division - the all-amatuer team division where every crew member aboard must maintain Group 1 sailor classification status with ISAF. The Corinthian division helps to reinforce why the Audi Melges 20 is such an attractive fleet for sailors. Teams can be wildly successful without a professional on board and enjoy the sport of sailing with their friends and family on a competitive level.